The waitress was stunned.
She looked at Xiao Tuanzi, then at the box in her hand.
It felt absurd, but she suppressed the feeling.
This little girl was unusual.
“So, what did the sister say?”
Xiao Tuanzi thought for a moment.
“She said she wanted me to play on the swing with her.”
[Children don’t lie, but they can talk nonsense.]
Lingfeng covered his face.
The waitress couldn’t hear the little fox’s complaints.
After a moment of silence, she said, “I see. It seems the sister is doing fine down there.”
Xiao Tuanzi’s accidental words helped the waitress relax a little.
The abandoned mine was far away.
Fortunately, a road had been built during its operation, so the car arrived smoothly.
The taxi stopped on a dirt road about a hundred meters away.
The waitress picked up Xiao Tuanzi and walked toward the mine entrance, stepping on broken stones.
Lingfeng and Xiaobai followed closely behind, while Qingyu circled overhead.
“Sister, don’t be afraid. I’ll have Qingyu scout ahead.”
Xiao Tuanzi took out the bronze dagger from her bundle.
The waitress said hoarsely, “I’m not afraid. As long as I can find my parents, I’ll dare to go anywhere, no matter how difficult.”
Qingyu flew back.
[It’s pitch black inside. There seem to be faint breathing sounds deep inside, along with the sound of chains dragging on the ground.]
Lingfeng darted to the mine entrance and sniffed. [There are several people’s scents, and the smell of blood.]
Xiaobai, with his sharp eyesight, went in to scout.
[There are guards inside.]
Qingxuan tugged at the waitress’s clothes.
“Sister, Xiaobai says there are guards inside.”
The waitress was so anxious that tears fell. “But my parents are in there.”
“I have a plan.”
Qingxuan took out the Yellow Talisman and Cinnabar from her bundle, along with the small copper bell.
“Stay here. I’ll go and drive the bad guys away. Qingyu will take you to find your aunt and uncle.”
“No! It’s too dangerous!”
The waitress grabbed her hand. “You’re just a child.”
“I’m not an ordinary child.”
Xiao Qingxuan raised her head proudly, smiling brightly.
“I’m a Disciple of the Zhengyi Sect. And I’ve calculated it—we’ll all be fine.”
After saying this, she exchanged a glance with Lingfeng and Xiaobai.
Xiaobai instantly transformed back into a half-grown white tiger, and Qingxuan climbed onto its back.
One human and two beasts quietly approached the mine entrance.
Qingxuan shook the copper bell.
The “ding-a-ling” sound was particularly clear in the silent mine, then abruptly stopped.
A commotion erupted inside the mine.
“What was that sound?” “It seems to be outside!” “Go check!”
Soon, two villagers walked out, carrying hoes.
At that moment, Xiaobai suddenly leaped out from the grass and let out a deafening tiger roar at them.
Lingfeng jumped onto a nearby short tree, baring his teeth at them.
“A tiger has come down the mountain.”
The two villagers were terrified out of their wits and turned to run back into the mine.
“Run! There’s a tiger!”
Taking advantage of their panic, Qingxuan waved toward a large rock.
Qingyu immediately landed on the waitress’s shoulder and entered the depths of the mine with her.
Qingxuan gripped her dagger tightly and also entered the mine.
Inside, it was pitch black, with only a few emergency lights emitting faint glimmers.
She could hear the cries for help from the burly men ahead, along with the roars of Xiaobai and Lingfeng.
They must have been holding them off.
She followed the trail of Qingyu’s scent and suddenly heard faint groans.
By the light of the emergency lamps…
She saw two ragged figures huddled in the corner—the little girl’s parents.
They were chained to the rock wall, their lips cracked and dry, clearly weakened to the extreme.
Qingxuan ran over, pulling out a dagger to hack at the lock on the chains.
The lock was heavily rusted, and a crack appeared with each strike.
“Daughter?” Father Zhang weakly opened his eyes, catching sight of a blurry figure.
“Am I dying? Why do I see two daughters?”
The little girl cried, “Dad, it’s me, I’m Yaya.”
Father Zhang snapped back to reality and shouted, “Yaya, run! Don’t let those people catch you!”
Before the emotional moment could fully unfold, a single word echoed: “Break.”
A faint cracking sound reached their ears.
The chains shattered in response.
In the dim environment, everyone turned to look at Xiao Tuanzi.
Xiao Tuanzi scratched her head and chuckled.
“I couldn’t break it, so I used a talisman.”
Without time for further explanation, Father Zhang grabbed his daughter and wife and ran toward the exit.
Xiao Tuanzi was taken aback. “Wait for me!”
The four of them, along with the bird, dashed toward the cave entrance.
Just as they neared the exit, an enraged roar echoed from behind.
“Grab them! Don’t let them escape!”
It turned out the two villagers had returned with several other accomplices, wielding machetes.
“Xiaobai! Lingfeng!” Qingxuan shouted.
The white tiger and white fox immediately sprang out from the side.
Xiaobai charged headfirst into the burliest man in front.
Lingfeng leaped onto the shoulder of a shorter man, clawing and biting at his face.
Amid the chaos, the group focused on pushing forward.
At that moment, a burly man who hadn’t been restrained raised his machete and swung it toward Xiao Tuanzi, who was at the back.
The machete was raised high, poised to strike her back.
“Watch out!” The little girl shoved Xiao Tuanzi aside.
But she was grazed by the blade, stumbling and falling to the ground.
Seeing this from the ground, Xiao Tuanzi grew furious.
She formed a hand seal and chanted rapidly: “Golden light, swiftly appear… protect my body, swiftly as the law commands!”
A burst of golden light erupted from her, forcing the burly man to stagger backward.
The three little ones, seeing Xiao Tuanzi begin the Golden Light Incantation, knew a fight was about to break out.
Just as they were preparing to transform and unleash their full power—
“Everyone! Hands up!”
Sirens blared from outside.
It turned out the female police officer had reported the situation, and the police station had immediately dispatched officers, arriving just in time for this scene.
Xiao Tuanzi quickly withdrew the golden light.
The pets also shrank back to their smaller forms, obediently lying at her feet.
The police quickly took control of the situation, rounding up all the accomplices in the mine.
Xiao Qingxuan stood to the side, a small smile on her face.
Xiaobai nuzzled her leg. [We weren’t discovered, right? The old man said if our true forms were discovered, we’d be sent to the zoo.]
Lingfeng slumped to the side. [Whether we’re discovered or not, I’m starving. I want ten pounds of meat when we get back.]
Qingyu landed on her head. [Don’t forget to mention Master’s name.]
Qingxuan slapped her forehead and shouted loudly to the police officer taking notes.
“Uncle Police Officer, my master is Daoist Xuansong, the 37th-generation successor of the Lingshan Zhengyi Sect.”
All the police officers turned to look.
Seeing her obediently holding a cat, they couldn’t help but laugh.
The female police officer walked over, using a wet wipe to clean her face.
“Yes, yes, your master is the best.”
Xiao Tuanzi shook her head, her soft, round face paired with serious words.
“No, Master said I’m the best.”
Everyone was amused by the adorable little Tuanzi.
At the police station.
Mother Shen was filing a report.
“Officer, my daughter isn’t my daughter.”
“No, my biological daughter is missing!”
The police officer had no choice but to set down his pen and first calm the woman before him.
She was somewhat incoherent.
Mother Shen did not know that her beloved biological daughter.
Was in a police car just one street away from her.